Vijaya Ekadashi 2026: Thursday, 12 February 2026

Observance days in 2026

The panchang lists Vijaya Ekadashi on 2 consecutive days in 2026 — this reflects the Smarta and Vaishnava observance traditions: when the Ekadashi tithi spans two sunrises, householders (Smarta) and Vaishnava devotees fast on adjacent days. Follow your family or sampradaya tradition.

Shubh muhurat windows

Ekadashi is a day of restraint rather than new undertakings. If you must act on it, the Abhijit Muhurat window listed above is the universally auspicious midday window; avoid the day's Rahu Kaal. For major beginnings, pick a date from the muhurat lists instead.

The Abhijit Muhurat is the midday window most digests treat as universally auspicious — Wednesdays excepted (what it is and why). Windows are computed for Delhi; your city's exact span shifts with local sunrise — check the city panchang or the Bela app.

What does Vijaya Ekadashi celebrate?

Vijaya Ekadashi is an Ekadashi — the eleventh tithi (lunar day) of a lunar fortnight, sacred to Vishnu. Devotees fast, keep vigil and worship Vishnu; the Puranas praise Ekadashi fasting as the foremost of vows. Vijaya Ekadashi of Phalguna is the fast of victory — the Ramayana tells of Rama keeping it before crossing to Lanka.

The story and significance of Vijaya Ekadashi

Ekadashi is the eleventh tithi of each fortnight of the lunar month, so it comes twice a month — once in the waxing (shukla) and once in the waning (krishna) half. Each carries its own name and story, and Vijaya Ekadashi is one of the twenty-four that fill the year.

The observance is a fast: grains and beans are avoided, the day is given to Vishnu worship, and the fast is broken (parana) on the next morning within its prescribed window. Smarthas and Vaishnavas sometimes observe on consecutive days when the tithi spans two sunrises — which is why the panchang can list the same Ekadashi twice.

Vijaya Ekadashi dates by year